Orange County River Festival returns with Elite Redfish Series

The Orange County River Festival is back for another three-day run on Friday, April 8 through Saturday, April 10, and will be held in conjunction with The Elite Redfish Series' "2016 Classic Kick Off" fishing tournament.Photo by Tommy Mann Jr.

A tradition featuring fishing and family fun returns to Orange this spring.

The Elite Redfish Series is headed to Orange this spring for a three-day tournament beginning Friday, April 8 and ending on Sunday, April 10. The event, presented by the Stark Cultural Venues and hosted by the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held in conjunction with the Orange County River Festival featuring tons of family activities, live music, carnival rides, games, vendors, food and more. Parking and admission to the festival and weigh-in for the Redfish Classic are free each day.

On Saturday, April 9, the festival will feature numerous activities suitable for the whole family. Highlights include The Cure Starts Now "Race Against The Odds" 5K Run/Walk, as well as the live music performance by Craig Campbell.

The "Race Against The Odds" 5K Run/Walk will be held at 8 a.m., Saturday, April 9 in Orange. The cost is $35 for the 5K run/walk and $20 for kids fun run and price includes a performance shirt for the 5K and a cotton T-shirt for the kids run. Refreshments will be served following the run and participants receive an outstanding finishers medal. The event is a timed event and place medals will be presented by age group for men and women.

The purpose of the event is to raise money for pediatric brain cancer research and is being held in memory of Corbin Burnett and Indy Parkhurst. Those interested in participating may register online at events.thecurestartsnow.org/redfish-elite-series-5K.

Country music artist Craig Campbell will perform at 8 p.m., Saturday, April 9, at the City of Orange Boat Ramp following the day's fishing activities and in conjunction with the Orange County River Festival.

Campbell, 37, is a native of Lyons, Ga. and is a former member of Tracy Byrd's touring band. He signed to Biggger Picture Music Group in 2010 and has released two EP's and two albums since that time.

His self-titled, full-length debut was released in April 2011 and peaked at number 11 on the U.S. Country chart and number 65 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart behind the strength of singles "Family Man," "Fish" and "When I Get It."

In May 2013, he released his sophomore album "Never Regret," which reached number 27 on the U.S. Country chart and number 96 on the Billboard Top 200 albums chart and featured the Top 20 hit, "Keep Them Kisses Comin'" and "Outta My Head."

In 2015 Campbell released the single "Tomorrow Tonight," which hit radio stations in May and is the first song from his yet-to-be-announced album for Red Bow Records where he signed following his previous label's closure.

With two Bassmaster Elite Series fishing tournaments to its credit, Orange has quickly become a fishing destination location in the past few years. Another high profile tournament will add to that reputation.

The 2016 Classic Kick Off will feature anglers who qualified during the 2015 tournament season competing at the three-day event with the top prize being a Yellowfin Boat with a Yamaha motor and a custom Ameratrail trailer. Practice begins on Sunday, April 3 and continues through Thursday, April 7.

"The Elite Redfish Series" will air on Destination America, one of the Discovery Channel's family of networks, as the whole 2016 season will be aired in full one-hour features. Each episode will include tournament action from the three-day tournament.